Body supporting and bathing device



Nov. 20, 1956 IRg H. wHlTx-:slDE 2,770,812l

BODY SUPPORTING AND BATHING DEVICE Filed June 7, 1954 RICHARD H. WH/TS/DE /NVENTOR HUEB/VER BEEHLER WORREL 8 HERZ/6 ATTORNEY:

United States Patent 2,770,812 BODY SUPPORTING AND BATHING DEVICE Richard H. Whiteside, Corcoran, Calif.

Application June 7, 1954, Serial No. 434,693 12 Claims. (CL i4-14s) n The present invention relates to articles of furniture and more particularly, to a combination body-supporting and bathing device.

The principles of this invention are especially applicable to furniture useable on lawns, patios, around swimming pools and in other outdoor locations, particularly those in which sun bathing is practiced. Conventional garden furniture is frequently made of a lightweight frame construction, generally of metallic tubing bent in the form of the desired article of furniture and providing a suitable cloth, plastic or fabric supporting member.

The appeal of such furniture is largely due to its inherent light weight and high strength characteristics as well as its adaptability for shaping intok -attractive and functional forms. One of the most popular uses for outdoor furniture of the reclining type, whether made of bent tubing or of other construction, is that of sun bathing.

The pleasures and advantages of sun bathing are wellknown as well as the objectionable overheating and sunburning that occurs with excessive exposure. Further, the above described metallic frame construction for outdoor furniture is highly conductive and retentive of the heat. It generally becomes untouchably warm when subjected to continuous exposure in the sun thus requiring that special care be taken to avoid any bodily contact therewith. The foregoing problems are solved in great measure by the present invention which is adapted to permit one to enjoy a sun bath while continuously or periodically cooling Iand/or washing with a refreshing spray of water. l

Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide a body supporting and bathing device havingy shower bath features incorporated therein. 'f Y Another object is to provide an article` of furniture adapted to permit the user to subject himself periodically or continuously to fluid spray'.

Another object is to provide an article of furniture adapted for use in sun bathing providing a body reclining surface and a support frame forsuch surface further serving as a fluid conductor for spraying liquid onthe reclining surface, the liquid passage through ther-frame serving to c'ool the frame and to warm the sprayingliquid.

Another object is to provide a cot or the like furniture I for reclining support made of a hollow tubular y,frame adapted to receive water for passage vtherethrough and ,to direct said water in a spray over a body supporting member mounted inthe frame.

Another object is to provide an varticle of furniture possessing characteristics of the foregoing objects `which is light in weight, durable, strong'andportable.l

These and other objects will become more'fully apparent in the subsequent description in the specification. v

Patented Nov. 20, 1956 Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the article of furniture shown in Fig, 1.

Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the article of furniture shown in Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is an end elevation of the article of furniture.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary section taken on line 5-5 of Fig. 2. l

Referring more particularly to the drawings:

An article of furniture, generally indicated by the numeral 10, conforming to the principles of this invention is shown in Fig. 1. This piece of furniture includes a frame member 11 and a body support member 12.

The frame 11, as shown in the drawings, is a hollow conduit or tubular member 15 formed into an endless substantially rectangular form. This tubular member is preferably made of some lightweight material, such as aluminum, steel, or other suitable material. The conduit defines head and foot end portions 16 and 17, respectively, a pair of side portions 18 and 19 of a common relatively greater length than the end portions, and has corner portions, such as 20, at the intersections of the end and sideportions.

A plurality of orifices 25, best seen in Figs. 2 and 5, are arranged in spaced positions `around the side and foot end portions of the conduit 15. The foot end portion 17, the corners 20 adjacent thereto and more than half of the length of the side portions 18 and 19 are provided with these orifices. The head end portion 16 and the adjacent corner 20 yand the side portions 18 and 19 are imperforate, for a purpose subsequently to be described. The axes of each of these orifices 25 are angularly inclined inwardly of the frame preferably about 15 from the vertical. The conduit is further provided with a uid inlet coupling 26 having a valve 27 associated therewith, a drainage faucet 28 also having a valve member 29. Although not shown in the drawings, a filter or the like may be employed at the iluid inlet coupling for inhibiting Athe passage of vdirt and foreign. particles into the Conduit The support structure 12 includes a pair of U-shaped legs 35 each having la central portion 36 and a pair of upright ends 37. The upright portions of the legs at the head of the frame are preferably slightly longer than the upright portions of the legs at the foot of the frame so that the frame slopes toward the foot. A slope of one inch or so in `a length of seven feet is excellent for the purpose. These legs are'mounted beneath the conduit 15 in intersecting connected relation,` as at 38, with the upright ends attached at diagonally opposite corners 20 of the conduit 15. Further, afsubstantially V-shaped brace 39 bowed centrally thereof to form an apex 40 is attached at said apex to the intersection 38 of the U-shaped legs and at the end portions, as 41, to a central portion of the side members 18 and 19, respectively, of the conduit.

The legs 35 and the brace 39'may also be made of light- -`weight aluminum tubing although there is no continuity between ythe hollow interior of conduit 15 and either the legs or brace. Prom the foregoing, it will be readily apparent that a sturdy lightweight frame and support therefor has been provided.

A body supporting member of sheet material 45 such -ias canvas, plastic or some other suitable fabric or sheet is mounted in the framei foraminous. In ythe ,latter case,it is desirable to provide a plurality of drainage holes, as 49, in the sheet material, preferably positioned centrally thereof.

A fluid supply conduit 55, such as a hose or the like, is provided for .connection to the fluid inlet coupling 26, thc other end thereof being attached to some suitable source of fluid.`

Operation The operation and utility of the present invention is believed to be readily apparent and is briefly summarized at this point. The article of furniture as provided by the foregoing description is quite suitable for use as a cot, bed or the like providing a reclining surface for sleeping, relaxing or the like. This type of furniture is especially useful on lawns, patios and around swimming pools. lt is of very lightweight construction, yet sturdy and strong in nature.

This article of furniture provides a convenient surface for a sun bather to recline and enjoy a sun bath while intermittently cooling off when the sun becomes uncomfortably hot. The bather preferably should arrange himself so that his head is adjacent to the upper end portion 16 and his feet disposed adjacent to lower end portion 17. The bather may periodically or continuously cool himself by turning the valve 27 on the fluid inlet coupling 26 whereupon water is permitted to flow from the fluid supply conduit 55 to the conduit 15 comprising the frame. When water circulates in the conduit under normal tap pressure, it is forced through the orifices 25 in the conduit and due to the angular inclination of' the orifices, is directed upwardly and inwardly of the frame in a fine spray. A sun bather reclining on the sheet material 45 is thereupon subjected to the spray and is immediately cooled off in a refreshing manner.

By adjusting himself on the sheet material 45, water accumulated thereon maybe drained off through the `drainage holes 49 or, if a foraminous sheet material has vbeen employed, through the mesh openings of the maferial. Conversely, by lying on the holes 49, drainage therethrough may be precluded so that water accumulates in a pool on the sheet member. When the water supply includes a lengthy garden hose 55 arranged in the sun, regulation of the rate of spray by means of the valve 27 regulates the temperature of the water as heated by the sun. In this manner, the spray may be of cooling or warming effect, as desired.

ln the event that it becomes desirable to clean out the conduit of collected particles of dust, dirt and the like, the valve 29 is opened and with the valve 27 also opened, a supply of water is sent through the conduit and flushed through the drainage faucet 28.

Although the invention has been disclosed in the design of a cot or other type of bed, the principles of this invention are not to be so limited. It will be readily apparent that this invention may be used in any type of outdoor furniture wherein water may be discharged or conducted Within the frame structure for the body supporting surface. As herein disclosed, it is particularly adapted for use with those articles of the furniture constructed of hollow tubing. These include, besides the disclosed structure, various forms of chairs, chaise longues, hammocks and the like. Further, the invention is not to be limited to the specific form of body supporting surface, as 45, shown in the drawings. It is only necessary that the manner of connection of the supporting surface to the framework be such as to permit the discharge of water through the orifices centrally or inwardly of the frame.

Although the invention has been herein shown and described in what is conceived to be the most practical and preferred embodiment, it is recognized that departures may be made therefrom within the scope of the invention, which is not to be limited to the details disclosed herein but is to be accorded the full scope of the claims so as to embrace any and all equivalent devices and apparatus.

Having described my invention, `what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

l. An article of furniture comprising an open frame of hollow tubular construction, body support means of sheet materia'l tensioned within the frame, the frame having orifices therein for directing a spray of fluid over the body support means, and fluid inlet means in the frame adapted for connection to a source of fluid under pressure.

2. An article of furniture comprising a hollow tubular substantially rectangular frame having a plurality of orifices directed inwardly of the frame, a support member positioned within the frame, means mounting the support member in the frame with a space defined between the support member and the frame in circumscribing relation to the support member, and means for supplying fluid under pressure to the frame.

3. An article of furniture comprising a flexible sheet of material having a periphery and forming a support surface, a frame encompassing the sheet material and tensioning the material therein, the frame comprising an endless fluid conduit having a plurality of orifices directed over the sheet material, and means for supplying fluid under pressure to the frame.

4. An article of furniture comprising a flexible sheet of material having'a periphery and forming a support surface, a frame circumscribing the sheet material adapted to be supported in a substantially horizontal position and being connected to the periphery of the sheet material, the frame comprising an endless fluid conduit having a plurality of orifices each having an axis angularly inclined inwardly from the vertical, and means for supplying fluid under pressure to the frame.

5. A portable cot comprising a substantially rectangular flexible sheet of material forming a support surface, a substantially rectangular frame encompassing the sheettmaterial and being connected to the periphery thereof tensioning the sheet material therein, the frame comprising an endless tubular member having a plurality of orifices therein angularly inclined to direct a spray of fluid inwardly over the support surface and having a fluid inlet coupling, and means supplying fluid to the inlet coupling.

6. An article of outdoor furniture comprising a substantially rectangular frame of tubular construction, support means adapted to mount the frame in substantially horizontal position, a substantially rectangular body supporting sheet member mounted within the frame having head, body and foot resting surfaces thereon, and means for introducing` a quantity of fluid under pressure to the hollow interior of the frame, the frame having a plurality of orifices in spaced positions about the body and foot resting surfaces of the sheet member, eachof the orifices having an axis inwardly and upwardly inclined to direct uid spray over the body and foot supporting surfaces `of the sheet member. y

7. A cot adapted for use in bathing comprising a substantially rectangular frame of hollow tubing adapted to be supported in substantially horizontal position having a pair of opposite end portions, a pair of relatively longer side portions and corner portions defined at the junctions of the side and end portions, a substantially rectangular fabric member having a plurality of drainage holes therein extended between and having the periphery thereof connected to the end and side portions of the frame providing a substantially horizontal body supporting surface, one of the `end portions and both of the side portions having a plurality of orifices therein each angularly inclined inwardly of the frame between a horizontal and a vertical plane adapted to direct a spray of water over the fabric member, the hollow tubing having a fluid inlet and a drainage outlet, a fluid supply conduit connected to the fluid inlet, valve means associated with the fluid inlet for selective adjustment of uid dow to the conduit, a pair of upright substantially U-shaped legs disposed in intersecting connected relation beneath the hollow tubing each connected at diagonally opposite corners of the tubing, and an upright substantially V-shaped brace having an apex joined to the legs at their point of intersection and opposite ends connected centrally of the side portions.

8. An article of furniture comprising an open frame of hollow tubular construction, a body supporting member mounted in a substantially horizontal position in the frame and in spaced relation thereto defining an air passage therebetween, the frame having orifices therein directed upwardly over the body supporting member, and means for supplying Huid under pressure to the frame.

9. An article of furniture comprising a body support member, a frame circumscribing the body support member, and means suspending the body support member within the frame in inwardly spaced relation thereto, the frame having uid conducting means adapted for connection to a source of uid under pressure and being disposed adjacent to the body support member and having orifices therein directed upwardly over the body support member.

10. An article of outdoor furniture comprising a substantially horizontal tubular member defining a body receiving area therein, a body supporting member mounted within the tubular member having head, body and foot resting surfaces thereon, the tubular member and the body supporting member lying in a substantially common plane, and means for introducing fluid under pressure into the tubular member, said tubular member having a plurality of orifices in spaced positions about the body and foot resting surfaces of the body supporting member, each of the orifices having an axis inwardly and upwardly inclined to direct uid spray over the body and foot supporting surface of the body supporting member.

11. An article of outdoor furniture comprising a tubular mem-ber defining a body receiving area therein and adapted to be mounted in a substantially horizontal position, a body supporting member of sheet material mounted within the 'tubular member having head, body and foot resting surfaces thereon lying in substantially the same plane as the tubular member, and means for supplying uid under pressure into the tubular member, the tubular member having a plurality of orifices in spaced positions around the body and foot resting surfaces of the sheet member, each of the orifices having an axis inwardly and upwardly inclined to direct iuid spray over the body and foot supporting surfaces of the sheet member.

12. An article of furniture comprising a body supporting member of sheet material having a peripheral edge and a body supporting surface, a tubular member connected to the body supporting member along the edge thereof and lying in substantially the same plane as the body supporting surface, the tubular member having a plurality of orifices each having an axis angularly nclined inwardly of the tubular member toward the body supporting member, and means for supplying fluid under pressure to the tubular member.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,058,284 Additon Oct. 20, 1936 

